TORONTO – The Lakehead Thunderwolves are down, but not quite out.
But they’re hanging by a thread.
The Ryerson Rams scored twice in the final 5:08 of regulation on Friday night to down the Thunderwolves 9-7, all but finishing off Lakehead’s playoff dream.
To make the postseason, the T-Wolves must win their finale on Saturday night, on the road against the Rams, and hope York doesn’t pick up a point in any of its final three contests. For playoff seeding purposes, the top three teams from the West and Far West divisions will make the playoffs, with the next two teams, regardless of division, securing the final two spots in the eight-team playoff.
It’s a tall order for a team on its last legs.
The Thunderwolves certainly had their chances on Friday night, taking the lead on three separate occasions against the top team in the OUA West.
The Rams, however, had other ideas.
Down 3-2 five minutes into the second, Ryerson rolled off three goals in less than nine minutes to take a 5-3 lead. Lakehead got one back before the period ended, Kyle Auger scoring his first of the season, but the Rams restored their two-goal advantage 75 seconds into the third, Chris Playfair beating Max Wright for his fourth of the campaign and third of the night.
Trailing by two, the T-Wolves battled back to even ground once again, Steven Fox and Spencer Blackwell scoring 1:41 apart to even the game 6-6.
Kyle Bollers gave the Rams a 7-6 led at 7:52 of the third, only to have Blackwell net his second of the night and third of the season on the power play at the 12:01 mark.
Ryerson wasn’t tied for long. Jesse Barwell beat Wright with 5:08 to play and Bollers deposited his 11th of the year into the empty net with four seconds to go in regulation.
Wright allowed eight goals on just 25 shots, the third LU goaltender to allow eight or more goals in a game this season.
Garrett Forrest also made just 18 saves.
The Thunderwolves wrap up regular-season play on Saturday night against Ryerson at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. York takes on Toronto in a matinee contest.
